The Department of Environment and Climate Change in the N.W.T. is advising residents to be cautious with their pets following the appearance of three wolves in and around Fort McPherson, N.W.T. A single wolf, which had been frequenting the area since early October, was recently shot and killed by a local resident. Lila Voudrach, the wildlife and environment manager for the Beaufort Delta region, mentioned that the wolf was often seen alongside loose dogs and feeding from dog bowls in the community.
Diana Koe, the Tetłit Gwich’in Council president and a Fort McPherson resident, noted that the wolf displayed a lack of fear towards dogs and people, behaving comfortably in public areas. Concerns arose due to its unusual behavior. Following the shooting of the first wolf, two more wolves have been observed loitering in the vicinity.
While the wolves have not shown aggression towards humans, Voudrach emphasized the risk they pose to dogs, which could potentially transmit diseases to humans. Past incidents have involved wolves attacking and killing dogs. Voudrach urged pet owners to leash their dogs and ensure they are vaccinated against rabies to prevent the spread of diseases from wildlife to humans and their pets.
Residents in the community have been advised not to feed the wolves or leave any food outside, including bird feed. To address the situation, traps have been set up by the renewable resource officer to capture the remaining two wolves.